Your Daily Crossroad
Wisdom with Self Control
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. (Genesis 45:1)
Personally, I can’t believe Joseph could keep his secret this long. Joseph had God-given self-control. Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to not reveal yourself to your brothers? Joseph handled this situation with such wisdom.
Wisdom and self-control are not natural traits. They have to be developed by and in a person. Wisdom is given by God and self-control is the last attribute listed in the fruits of the Spirit. It is through life experiences that we gain wisdom and it is through intense trials that we learn self-control, However, experience and trials do not necessarily mean that people become wise and self-controlled.
God desires to develop both of these traits in His children. When God can trust you, He entrusts you with greater gifts and callings. Obviously, God tests our hearts through a variety of trials in life. How we react and respond to those trials shows us where we place our trust. How often do we want to look to man or impulsively react to what we think is best? Patience, endurance, waiting and resting are not eagerly sought characteristics today. Thank the Lord that, in Christianity, we are under the covenant of grace which means that we can take the test over and over until we pass.
A person with wisdom and self-control blesses God and others, as well as himself. Joseph is a great role model for each of us. God was so gracious to give us an example of a man who endured years of trials and abuse but overcame the circumstances to be entrusted with governing Egypt. Ask the Lord to show you what’s missing in your walk with Him. Then, ask for wisdom and pray for self-control.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think, what a mighty and loving God we serve. Praise God we can take the test over and over until we pass. Help me Lord to grow in wisdom and self control, remind me in the moments of testing to know who my strength comes from and help me remember not to react impulsively to what I think is best but to look to you for guidance and direction. Today and every single day, let’s keep our eyes stayed on Him!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 84, Romans 9:16-33
Who is Greater Than My God?
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalm 104:1-9, 19-20, 24)
Take a moment and read these verses. Take even more time and read the entire Psalm 104. Sometimes we need to be reminded of God’s awesome power and greatness. This Psalm captures the beauty of the Lord in poetic imagery. We can read the verses and almost visualize God’s majesty. He is God and there is none other. He is worthy of all praise and worship.
Who covers Himself with light? God is light. Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters? God. The same God moves upon the clouds as though they were His chariots and walks on the wings of the wind, because He made them. Who placed the waters in their place and put a border around them? God. The same God put the moon and the sun in their places, for seasons and for days, for light and for darkness. There is but one true God. Creator God. Sovereign Lord. Lord of heaven and earth.
And as if all of this is not enough, He created us in His image. He has a plan for each of us. He loves us beyond our understanding. And He wants to spend eternity with us. He has even prepared the place in heaven that awaits us. What do we have to do in return? Believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and receive the free gift of salvation. Take time today and praise the Lord, not just for all that He has done, but for just who He is.
As I read this I must admit, I cried and cried and cried, my daughter said mommy what’s the matter and I had the opportunity to share with her His goodness. As the children of God we are so rich, I was reminded of this as I read Psalm 104. Wow!! What a mighty God we serve. His majesty is beyond my imagination. After I got my composure I said out loud, wow, that’s powerful!!! I pray as you read this today you feel the strength and power that jumps off the page because He is!! He is good, He is love, He is forgiveness, He is mercy, He is grace, He is I Am, He is beautiful, He is the beginning and the end, He is. Take time today and praise the Lord, not just for all that He has done, but for just who He is. He is my everything!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 104
Walking With God
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:6-8)
God does not want just our sacrifices or our good deeds. He will not share us with our ambitions or hobbies. He wants all of us.
Sunday mornings and a few quick prayers said before we lay down to sleep are not enough. He wants us to relentlessly pursue him. Not because he needs us, but because we need him.
We were created for worship and to bring honor and glory to his name. When we don’t give ourselves fully to God, we are the ones who suffer. The endless pursuits of personal pleasure always lead to emptiness. God is jealous, not because our rejection hurts his ego, but because it hurts his heart.
He knows our greatest needs and that he can only truly fill us with joy.
When Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). He made it clear that everything we needed would be given if we would simply put him first. This is in no way a prosperity gospel.
Jesus cast no illusions that the Christian life would be easy. He meant that He is all we truly need. Paul got this. He learned to be content no matter what his circumstances. He learned the secret of true happiness.
When he said “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). He was essentially saying Jesus is enough.
Jesus is not one of many great things, He is the only great thing. I am tired of serving the god of self. I am tired of giving Christ only part of my heart. I want to do the will of my Lord. I will seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God!
Are you walking humbly with God, or are you serving the god of self?
What a great question to ask ourselves. Once I read this I knew it needed to be shared. I pray it provokes the thought in your mind today. Am I serving God or self? What a statement, Jesus is not one of many great things, He is the only great thing!! May we remember this the next time we are tempted to serve self over God. He is enough, walk with Him today and every day.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 6:33
Challenging Worship During The Worst
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lordgave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:20-22)
This scene of Job’s right heart toward God is beautiful. Even stricken with grief, he worshiped.
What anguished him was the devastating news he received from four messengers in rapid succession. They brought him the news as follows:
Any one of these messages would have been difficult in their own right, but imagine receiving this news all at once. He simultaneously lost nearly everything he had, from property to his children, and was left with little more than himself and the clothes on his back.
How did Job respond?
He “fell down upon the ground and worshiped.” He worshiped God through His right heart, without sinning.
Often, we don’t think of worship as anymore than more singing songs at church. But let us learn to worship God always as Job did, especially in the hard times.
Remember, our hearts are never so honest as when we are in the midst of trying circumstances. How will the Lord find our hearts in difficult situations?
Worship God with the knowledge that He is unchangeably good, even in the worst moments of our lives.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). As I finished reading this devotion that scripture came resounding back to my memory. I pray this uplifts and encourages someone today. Ask yourself, how does or will The Lord find my heart in difficult situations? Let’s be encouraged today by Job. Even at the lowest point in his life he worshiped God without sinning. Remember, lo, I (God) am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is John 14:27